Hash rate, hash functions. These are words thrown around when the subject of digital or blockchain security comes up. This is because without these metrics, the internet and blockchain networks as we know it would not be safe. But what do these terms really mean?
Well, in this article, we will be introducing hashing and hashing algorithms. If you are trying to understand the basics of these concepts, this guide will provide you with all you need to know. Let’s dive right in!
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Hashing is the process of converting an input into a string of characters with a fixed length.
- Hashing algorithms are mathematical functions that transform an input data into a hash.
- Some common hashing algorithms are MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, Bcrypt, and Scrypt.
- Hashing has found usefulness for password storage, spam detection, and in blockchain technology.
What Is Hashing?
Hashing is the process of converting an input into a string of characters with a fixed length, which is typically a hexadecimal number. This output is called a hash and is a unique representation of the input information. Hashing is a one-way process, meaning it is practically impossible to retrieve the original data when it is converted.
For example, hashing a phrase like “Hello, World!” can produce a unique hash similar to: a591a6d40bf420404a011733cfb7b190d62c65bf0bcda32b55e899a157da5eec.
No matter how many times you hash the input, the result remains the same. However, the littlest change in the input will yield a totally different hash. This property is called avalanche effect, and it is what makes hashing highly effective at identifying small changes in data.
What Are Hashing Algorithms?
These are mathematical functions that transform an input data into a hash. Hashing algorithms are designed to be fast, efficient, and secure. Also, there are different types with each of them tailored to specific use cases. These can include password storage, data integrity checks, and cryptographic applications.
Some of the most popular hashing algorithms include:
- Message Digest 5 (MD5): It is widely used for file integrity verification but is vulnerable to collision attacks.
- Secure Hash Algorithm 1 (SHA-1): It was formerly used as a standard for digital signatures but is no longer considered safe.
- Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit (SHA-256): Used particularly to secure blockchains like Bitcoin.
- Bcrypt: Designed for password hashing and used to prevent brute-force attacks.
- Scrypt: It is similar to Bcrypt but is designed to be memory-intensive.
- Argon2: This is a gold standard for password hashing.
Read Also – A Comprehensive Guide To Cryptocurrency Security Protocols
How Do Hashing Algorithms Work?
Hashing algorithms work by passing the input information through a series of mathematical operations. The basic steps include:
- Input data parsing: The algorithm receives the input and splits it into fixed-size blocks.
- Compression function: Each block is passed through a compression function where mathematical operations are applied to thoroughly mix the data.
- Bit manipulation: Techniques such as bit shifts and modular arithmetic are used to ensure the hash is random.
- Output generation: The final result is a unique fixed-length hash that represents the input data.
Properties Of A Good hashing Algorithm
For an hashing algorithm to be good, it must satisfy the following requirements;
- Deterministic: The same input must always produce the same output.
- Fixed output length: The hash length must remain the same irrespective of the input size.
- Efficient: It must process data quickly.
- Collision resistance: Two different inputs should not have the same hash.
- Pre-image resistance: It should be computationally impossible to derive the original information from its hash.
- Avalanche effect: A small change in the input should produce a vastly different hash.
Applications Of Hashing
Hashing is a versatile tool that has found application in the following ways:
- Password storage: They protect passwords even if a database is compromised.
- Data integrity: Hashing like MD5 and SHA-256 are used to verify a file’s authenticity.
- Digital signatures: They confirm the digital signature of a message to verify the authenticity of its sender.
- Content addressing: Hashing is used in systems such as Git and IPFS to uniquely identify data based on its content.
- Spam detention: It can generate unique hashes for known spam content to identify and block them.
- Blockchain technology: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum rely on hashing to validate transactions, secure the network, and mine new blocks. For example, SHA-256 is used in Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism.
Hashing In Blockchain
Hashing is the cornerstone of how security is maintained in decentralized networks. Here is how it works.
- Transaction hashing: Each transaction is hashed to create a unique identifier. The hash is added in the block and any alteration automatically invalidates the block.
- Block hashing: Every block has a hash of its content and that of the previous block, thus creating a chain of tamper-proof blocks.
- Miming and proof-of-work (PoW): Miners solve complex mathematics puzzles to validate a block and add it to the blockchain.
- Merkle trees: Transactions within a block are organized in a Merkel Tree and each leaf node is a hash of a transaction. The root hash contains a summary of all transactions in the block.
Conclusion
Hashing is indeed a fundamental part of the security of most digital systems. As the technology evolves, so will our digital lives become more secure and efficient. Now that you have read through this introduction to hashing and hashing algorithms, I am sure you better understand the mechanism that helps keep our data safe, right?
Reference
- komodoplatform.com – What’s A Hashing Algorithm? An Introduction
- geeksforgeeks.org – Introduction to Hashing
- techtarget.com – hashing
